There are many musical instruments in India: some are used primarily in north Indian music (Hindustani sangeet), some are used in south Indian music (Carnatic sangeet), while others are found in folk music.
There is a traditional system for the classification of instruments based upon: non-membranous percussion (ghan), membranous percussion (avanaddh), wind blown (sushir), plucked string (tat), bowed string (vitat).
Plucked Stringed Instruments (Tat)
This class of instruments is characterized by plucked strings. In ancient times virtually all instruments of this class were referred to as vina.
Sitar
Sitar is perhaps the most well known of the Indian instruments.
It's a long necked instrument with an interesting construction. The main resonator is usually made of a gourd and there is sometimes an additional resonator attached to the neck.
Sitar is used in a variety of genres. It is played in north Indian classical music, film music and western fusion music. It is not commonly found in south Indian classical performances or folk music.
Bowed-Stringed Instruments (Vitat)
This is a class of stringed instruments which are bowed. It appears to be quite old, yet these instruments did not occupy a place in classical music until the last few centuries. The entire class of instruments has a certain stigma attached to it. Even today only the Western violin is free of this stigma.
Sarangi
Sarang is a common representative of vitat class of musical instruments. It has three to four main playing strings and a number of sympathetic strings. The instrument has no frets or fingerboard; the strings float in the air. Pitch is determined by sliding the fingernail against the string rather than pressing it against a fingerboard (like the violin). This instrument is extremely difficult to play, as a consequence its popularity is on the decline.
Membranous Percussive (Avanaddh)
This is a class of instruments which have struck membranes and typically comprise the drums.
Tabla
Tabla is a pair of drums. It consists of a small right hand drum called dayan and a larger metal one called bayan.
INSTRUMENTS
There are many musical instruments in India: some are used primarily in north Indian music (Hindustani sangeet), some are used in south Indian music (Carnatic sangeet), while others are found in folk music.
There is a traditional system for the classification of instruments based upon: non-membranous percussion (ghan), membranous percussion (avanaddh), wind blown (sushir), plucked string (tat), bowed string (vitat).
Plucked Stringed Instruments (Tat)
This class of instruments is characterized by plucked strings. In ancient times virtually all instruments of this class were referred to as vina.
Sitar
Sitar is perhaps the most well known of the Indian instruments.It's a long necked instrument with an interesting construction. The main resonator is usually made of a gourd and there is sometimes an additional resonator attached to the neck.
Sitar is used in a variety of genres. It is played in north Indian classical music, film music and western fusion music. It is not commonly found in south Indian classical performances or folk music.
Bowed-Stringed Instruments (Vitat)
This is a class of stringed instruments which are bowed. It appears to be quite old, yet these instruments did not occupy a place in classical music until the last few centuries. The entire class of instruments has a certain stigma attached to it. Even today only the Western violin is free of this stigma.
Sarangi
Sarang is a common representative of vitat class of musical instruments. It has three to four main playing strings and a number of sympathetic strings. The instrument has no frets or fingerboard; the strings float in the air. Pitch is determined by sliding the fingernail against the string rather than pressing it against a fingerboard (like the violin). This instrument is extremely difficult to play, as a consequence its popularity is on the decline.
Membranous Percussive (Avanaddh)
This is a class of instruments which have struck membranes and typically comprise the drums.
Tabla
Tabla is a pair of drums. It consists of a small right hand drum called dayan and a larger metal one called bayan.
(adapted from
http://chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/nritya/folk_dance.html)